Where the world stands on an invasion of Iraq

The military wheels are already in motion and according to Voice of America 'war plans are laid out for complete annihilation of Iraq via conventional weapons, or if needed, via nuclear weapons'. George Bush has support from a majority of the population, shown in a six-nation survey in November. The Princeton Survey Research Associates poll showed 62 per cent of interviewees favoured taking military action to end Saddam Hussein's rule.

Iraq

The US has pressured the UN to enable it to interview Iraqi scientists about Iraq's nuclear capabilities. The dilemma for Saddam Hussein is that if he allows a scientist out to blow the whistle on a banned weapons programme, it could lead to war. Any attempt to block their departure, however, would also be the cause of an all-out conflict. The Iraqi government, which claims it has destroyed all banned weapons, is now insisting it does not expect any scientist would volunteer to leave.

India

India is adamant that the US and Iraq abide by UN resolutions. Although the country is a trading partner with Iraq and has called for an abolition of sanctions, ultimately India will back a US-led war. Such a war would have a worrying effect on the Muslim psyche, with 150 million Muslims residents in India. Recently the US showed no objections to India's nuclear weapons tests.

Iran

Along with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the government of President Mohammad Khatami (below right) has taken a stand against a US-led attack. Influential former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Friday 'a US installed government could not last long in neighbouring Iraq'. A fundamentalist Islamic republic, Iran is one of Bush's 'axis of evil' states. Even so, Tehran has called on Iraq to admit weapons inspectors and comply with United Nations resolutions.

Canada

Defence Minister John McCallum has affirmed support for a US-led war and says the government may commit forces without UN authorisation. He has assured US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Canada will be 'militarily involved' if the Security Council approves an invasion.

Australia

The government is 'approaching the point of a decision' on participating in Iraq. But sources say that Australia will wait until the chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, delivers his final report on 27 January, before making a 'commitment to go to war'.

China

The Chinese are historically suspicious of any US movement in the Middle East, but seek to improve relations with America and are showing support for the Security Council vote. They officially back the UN's decisions on the Iraq situation, but would reluctantly support the US-led war as the people fear terrorism even more.

Russia

While publicly the administration is against a war in Iraq, Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov has said that multilateral action against Iraq would be legitimate provided it had UN backing. However oil trading contracts have been terminated by the Iraqis, lessening the sympathy vote from the Russians.

France

President Jacques Chirac continues to call for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. He appears to be preparing public opinion for a possible conflict and recently cautioned military leaders to be prepared for all eventualities of war. A new survey indicates three-quarters of all French citizens oppose a war on Iraq.

Jordan

The government will not support the US in the event of a war with Iraq, co-operate with the Iraqi opposition or allow the American military to use Jordanian territory. On 6 January, Prime Minister Ali Abul-Ragheb and Turkish leader Abdullah Gul expressed deep concern that a US invasion of Iraq 'will have extremely negative effects on the security and stability of the region'.

Turkey

Some fear that tensions between Turks and Kurds could be reignited by a conflict. On Friday, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent a letter to Baghdad appealing to Iraq to comply with UN resolutions. A survey showed that 83 per cent of Turks said they would not let the Americans use their bases to attack Iraq. However, the US is one of Turkey's closest allies, a position that would be seriously threatened if Turkey did not support the invasion. America is trying to persuade Turkey to back an attack, and has promised to assist in its application for EU membership in return.

Israel

Israel will support the US if it attacks. In response to Saddam's agreement to allow weapons inspectors back into the country in September, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said 'inspectors and supervision only work with honest people. Dishonest people know how to overcome this easily.' Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has threatened to retaliate if Israel is attacked with chemical or biological weapons. In an interview in December, Sharon said: 'We have taken all the measures necessary to protect the population of Israel.'

Germany

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder took a strong anti-war stand during his campaign for re-election in September 2002, claiming that 'under my leadership Germany will not take part in a military intervention'. Since then he has granted US forces the use of German bases and airspace in the event of a war. Germany will also send missile defence systems to Israel to defend against attack from Iraq. Schröder cited 'moral and historic reasons' for helping to protect Israel. Despite this, Schröder maintains an anti-war stance and Germany will not become involved in military action.

Saudi Arabia

In an interview with the BBC in August, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal condemned the planned war and insisted that Iraq's future must be determined by the people alone. He later stated that, even if the UN passes a resolution authorising the use of force, 'we hope a chance will be given to the Arab states to find a political solution to this issue'.

Syria

President Bashar al-Assad has made it clear that, despite his country's past differences with Baghdad, he is opposed to war. America is putting pressure on Assad to rein in Hizbollah and Palestinian groups operating within its borders, something Syria refuses to do.

Pakistan

Pakistanis' allegiance in 'the war on terrorism' is with the US, however they are reluctant to go to war. There is much anti-US sentiment in Pakistan's tribal north-west Frontier, where it is reported some fleeing al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters have found a safe refuge from US forces in Afghanistan. Gen Pervez Musharraf, right, has shown support to the US's 'war on terrorism.' He is keen to prevent the conflict in Afghanistan from spreading to Pakistan, where support for Islamist parties is growing.

Lebanon

Relations between Lebanon and the United States are tense, with disagreement on a number of issues. America insists that Hizbollah is an international terrorist organisation, while Lebanon says it is a local party and has no operations abroad. They also disagree over Israel and Palestine. At a summit in October Lebanon's Prime Minister, Emile Lahoud, said America was hypocrital in enforcing UN resolutions in Iraq but not in Israel.

Sudan

In August, Health Minister Ahmed Ballal Osman expressed his country's support for Iraq in the event of an attack by America, saying that the Sudanese 'are standing alongside the Iraqi people in their confrontation with the American plans'. Sudan supported Iraq during the Gulf War.

Indonesia

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda has said that although the government 'supports every effort on the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction through the UN security council... intervention along with disarmament that targets a regime change in Iraq would be difficult to accept'.

Malaysia

In September 2002, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad suggested that 'we should take action to lift sanctions' against Iraq once they had agreed to the resumption of weapons inspections. In an interview in the Daily Telegraph, Mahathir said of America's treatment of Iraq: 'I don't believe that you should punish the people of Iraq because you don't like their leader...Saddam Hussein is not being punished. He's fat, and he is eating enough food and living in palaces. But his people are punished by denying them food and medicine.'

United Kingdom

Britain has shown a close allegiance to the US 'war against terror' and has deployed forces in the Middle East, seemingly starting to prepare for war. Defence sources have disclosed that the Government has chartered more than 30 ships to transport tanks and heavy guns for a possible invasion and Ministers are under military pressure to decide what forces should be deployed. The public are divided. According to one survey, the same percentage of interviewees opposed joining the US and other allies in action in Iraq to end Saddam Hussein's rule, as favoured it.